2 r 2 The Honey-Makers 



hall and biteth leaves from the branches of that right 

 famous tree called Lerathr. Now from out her teats there 

 runneth so much mead, that she filleth therewith each day 

 a drinking vessel so huge that all the Einheriar are made 

 drunken thereby ? ' Then quod Gangleri, ' Most curious 

 surely is that Goat, and right excellent must be the tree 

 whose leaves she croppeth.' " 



From the " Elder Edda " we learn that Odin daily visited 

 Saga, the Goddess of History, and drank with her mead 

 from out a golden bowl. 



In the "Elder Edda" we also learn how Heimdal, the 

 ward of the gods, guarding the bridge to heaven against 

 the mountain giants, sustains himself by means of mead. 



" Himinbjorg it is called. 

 Where Heimdal rules 

 Over his holy halls ; 

 There drinks the ward of the gods 

 . In his delightful dwelling 



Glad the good mead." 



In the " Eddas " mead flows as freely as in the Anglo- 

 Saxon poems ; every guest has it pressed upon him. 



" The massy flagon deign to wield, 

 With generous cool metheglin filled," 



is ever the invitation, though the wording may differ, as 



" Bid him welcome, maiden ; haste, 

 Let him our metheglin taste." 



In " Tegner's Frithiof s Saga," when King Bele feels his 

 death approaching, he says : — 



" My mead-cup's flavor all is gone. 

 The helm weighs down my brow ; 



My vision fails to trace the lines 

 Of human weal and woe ; 



But nearer, brighter, Valhall shines, — 

 My death 's at hand, I trow ! " 



